Weekly Digest

No Commission Executive Sessions or Open Meetings were scheduled this week.

ADVISORY OPINIONS

Drafts

AO 2011-24 (StandLouder.com). On January 6, the Commission made public two drafts of Advisory Opinion 2011-24 in response to a request from Louder Solutions LLC (the Company), which has established a web application called StandLouder.com (the Website). The Website enables users to post and fund proposed advertisements relating to any topic, including politics and elections. The Company asks questions regarding political committee status and disclaimer and disclosure obligations. Comments on the draft are due by noon on January 11, 2012.

ENFORCEMENT

The Commission made public one closed case.

MUR 6436
RESPONDENTS: Little Compton Taxpayers Association; John Loughlin; and Friends of John Loughlin and Mia Caetano Johnson, in her official capacity as treasurer
COMPLAINANT: William Brett McKenzie
SUBJECT: The complaint alleged that the Little Compton Taxpayers Association (Little Compton) disseminated a mailer that, among other items, endorsed Loughlin for federal office, but that Little Compton is not registered with the Commission as a political committee. The complaint alleged further that Little Compton failed to report the costs of that portion of the mailer. Finally, the complaint alleged that Loughlin, and Friends of John Loughlin and Johnson, in her official capacity as treasurer, failed to report receipt of Little Compton’s purported in-kind contribution. Loughlin was a 2010 candidate for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District.
DISPOSITION: The Commission dismissed the matter in connection with Little Compton in light of the fact that the potential costs at issue were relatively low, given the small federal portion of the mailer, and in furtherance of the Commission’s priorities relative to other matters. The Commission found no reason to believe Loughlin, and Friends of John Loughlin and Johnson, in her official capacity as treasurer, violated the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended, (the Act) or Commission regulations.

CREW v. FEC(No. 11-cv-00951(CKK)). On December 30, 2011, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued an opinion and order denying the Commission’s Motion to Dismiss and granting the Commission’s Motion for Summary Judgment.

OUTREACH

On January 4, Communications Specialist Stephanie Caccomo discussed Commission operations and campaign finance regulations with students from The Washington Center.